Help...I suffer with chronic back and neck pain as well as severe migraines

By Amber_in_OC Tuesday, August 11, 2009

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2 years ago I had a cervical spinal fusion on levels c4-c8, I also have 2disc herniation's at l4-l5, l5-s1. I have been on pain medications for the last 3.5 years. I currently am taking soma 2x a day, ms contin 60mg 2x a day, nortriptyline 75mg 1 x a day and endocet for breakthrough pain generally 2 pills 2-3 times a day. In addition to this i suffer from insomnia and chronic migraine headaches caused by tension in my neck. I am getting these headaches at least 2x a week and really severe ones that last up to 3 days they are so bad that I cannot stop throwing up and cannot move. The only thing I can do is go to the urgent care and they give me injections of zophran and 4mg of dilaudid. I end up having to go in every week and a half, I generally wait until I have had them for at least 2 days before going in but its just sad to have to endure this on such a frequent basis with no way of dealing with it

I cannot manage them on my own since 95% of the time I actually wake up with them. I have had a MRI of my brain which showed up clear. I have seen a couple neurologists regarding this and basically they told me that I would have to stop taking all the other medications I am taking for my back and neck pain in order to deal with the migraines. Unfortunately this is not an option and it seems ridiculous to me that both of them cannot be managed. It is also equally ridiculous that I am having to go into the doctors office so many times a month. I am at the end of my rope. Since the migraines are induced from tension headaches I am not sure what options I have as to deal with them. I have tried various migraine medications to no avail. I have tried midrin, imitrex, topamax, fioricet, and a few others I cannot recall. Do you have any suggestions?

Comments (3) | Add comment

Nan from the Dunes

8/12/09 9:00pm

Where exactly are your headaches? Could they possibly be occipital from either side over the top and stop above the eye? If so they could be from the cervical spine, not tension, and or migraines. I have occipital on the right, which is the side of cervical that is worse.

If so, you may have another direction to follow. Is there a headache clinic near where you live?

Tonya

9/ 4/09 3:58am

I hate to even think of others suffering like you and I. My issues on the exact spinal numbers are almost to much for me to go on with life. I wish you, I and others going through this could find a treatment that would give us the capibility of doing daily life. I wish I had some thoughts or suggestions that might help but you have tried everything I have. Just keep praying, mabey someday soon we can have our lives back.

Amber_in_OC

9/ 5/09 3:22am

I have finally given up on the idea of having my old life back. I feel like its just one thing after another. I had another MRI performed this week on my Lumbar spine and they found a tarlov cyst on my nerve roots that has been causing me so much pain. I finally found a Neurologist that is willing to take the time to work with me on my headaches. So far they have prescribed Migrinal nasal spray so we will see if it works, the next step is to try DHE Injections that I will be able to do myself. I will keep you posted if it works.

I guess the most important thing is to pray and trust in God and just keep seeking solutions to try and improve your quality of life. One is just to really try and get the most out of your good days and allowing yourself to have bad days. I have been taking classes on coping with Chronic Pain and am learning a lot about relaxation and pacing yourself. I have committed myself to stick to an exercise routine. For those of us with major back problems the best thing you can do is water exercises and swimming. I am hoping that by doing this it will alleviate some of the pain I hae been having. Thank you all for your support, I will keep you posted as to how things unfold the next month or two.

Help...I suffer with chronic back and neck pain as well as severe migraines

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